Slide fastener with detachable smoothing means



July 1, 1958 2,840,877

SLIDE FASTENER WITH DETACHABLE SMOOTHING MEANS A. FOLTIS Filed Oct. 4.1951 INVENTOR ANESTSIS FOLTIS United States Patent SLIDE FASTENER WITHDETACHABLE SMOOTHING MEANS Anestis Foltis, Jackson Heights, N. Y.,assignor to Knit Wear Patents, Inc., Atlanta, Ga, a corporation ofGeorgia Application October 4, 1951, Serial No. 249,714

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-20515) My invention relates to an improved fastener;and especially to slidable fastening members to be utilized inconjunction with rows of stationary fastening elements on wearingapparel and other articles, to unite and release said elements.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a slidablefastening member having a simple and effective smoothing attachment oraccessory to distend the cloth or like material to which the fasteningelements are connected, and facilitate the operation of said elementsand said member.

A further object is to provide a slidable fastening member that bears anaccessary of relatively soft pliable material to move along the cloth orother parts to which the fastening elements are secured and flatten anyfolds or wrinkles in the cloth. Hence the slidable member does not catchat any point on the cloth when it is operated; and said fasteningelements are always actuated smoothly and easily to engage and disengageone another. Another object is to provide such an accessory that can beeasily and quickly mounted on the slidable fastening member.

Additional objects and the nature and advantages of the invention areclearly set forth in the ensuing description and several embodiments areillustrated in the drawings. But the disclosure is by way of exampleonly and is not restricted to the exact designs shown herein, andalterations in structural details may be made without deviation from thecharacteristics which are defined in the appended claim; or omission ofany of the essential features of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slidable fastening device accordingto this invention, with the accessory in place thereon.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the means for holding the attachment oraccessory upon the fastening member.

Slidable fastening members are generally employed with a pair of stripsof cloth, each with a row of fastening elements secured along one edgeof each. These strips are \atfixed to a garment or other article whichis to be opened and closed at the desire of the owner; for instance,

the strips with the fasteners can be attached to the front edges of ashirt, or coat. They are actuated by a slidable member 1, generally ofmetal, which draws the elements together and releases them in a wellknown manner. The slidable fastener as usual can be pulled in oppositedirections to join or release the elements according to the effectdesired. This slidable fastener has the conventional formation andoutline comprising a relatively narrow bridge or neck connecting a frontsection at one end to a parallel rear section, the member being "iceopen at the opposite end and along both sides thereof.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the smoothing attachment or pressermeans is joined to a part for mounting and holding it upon the member 1.This part has the form of a clip 3, overlying the outer face of bothfront and rear sections of the slidable member 1. This clip 3 also hasfront and rear sections of the same general shape as the member 1 andconnected at one end by a bridge or neck 4 and each bearingtongue 5 atits opposite end, and the clip 3 is made of metal or other pliable orflexible smooth material. The edges of the clip at both sides of eachtongue or lug 5 have rims or flanges 6. Each projection 5 carries arubber tip 7; and adjacent the neck 4, each section has a cut-out tongue8 that extends beyond the neck 4. Each tongue 8 bears a larger rubbertip 9, with a slot receiving the tongue 8.

The neck 4 is flexible and resilient and the clip 3 can be pushedsideways or endwise upon the member 1. The two sections of the clip arethen pressed together and the flanges 6 are turned over to grip the rearedges of the member 1 to hold it fast. After assembling, the tips 7 and9 can be attached to the tongues 5 and 8 respectively.

When the elements above referred to are to be disconnected, the tip '7moves ahead of the slide member, keeping the cloth strips and theelements therein in correct transverse alinement. To unite the elementsthe slidable member is moved in the opposite direction. The tip 9 of thesmoothing element now leads the member 1 and moves along the rows ofelements, just ahead of the member 1. If any wrinkles or folds of clothare in the Way, then the combined action of the tips 9 press and smooththem out and the slidable member will not be obstructed as it draws thefastening elements together. Either tip 7 or 9 acts as smoothening meansas each may lead in the direction of movement of the member 1. Theoperation is thus quick, easy and certain. The tips are always set atthe proper angle.

Having described my invention what I believe to be new is:

A slidable fastener member having a front and back connected by a neckand a clip having a front and back connected by a neck at one endenveloping said member and overlying the front and back of said member,said clip having cut-out tongues on its back and front adjacent theneck, a tip mounted on each tongue, tips on the front and back of theclip at the ends remote from the neck, and flanges on said ends at eachside of said tips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,700,514 Prentice Jan. 29, 1924 1,886,123 Rust Nov. 1, 1932 2,056,172De Vere Oct. 6, 1936 2,072,200 De Vore Mar. 2, 1937 2,176,445 LAmie Oct.17, 1939 2,177,344 Lange Oct. 24, 1939 2,278,388 Bogenberger Mar. 31,1942 2,295,976 Suskowitz Sept. 15, 1942 2,296,831 Bloxsom Sept. 29, 19422,325,709 Samstegman Aug. 3, 1943 2,405,509 Marinsky Aug. 6, 1946FOREIGN PATENTS 512,989 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1939

